Imgflip users, need your help! Does anyone have experience in theatre costume construction, like harpy wings? Please comment!

Or if you know some good resources that could help me figure this out, that would be appreciated. Google has not been useful thus far. I'm trying to figure out how to create and attach the wings skeleton to the arms of the actor so that fabric and feathers can then be attached to the wing structure that would allow the actor to use their arms to open and close the wings easily.

you are going to have to use straps over or under costume if the need to move. above elbow and/or wrist. u can use pex tubing for frame work is expensive however, find in hardware plumbing supply if you are really pressed for$ pvc wrx2. make framework to mount 2 costume /actor, then make wings feathers between ribbon qwik felt mount with laminated wire or small zip ties

Wow, thanks! This is really helpful!

I wish I could help but I have no idea at all

That's alright, thanks anyway!

Yes. Probably. But that would blow my cover. You should probably check etsy for obscure ideas.

Good idea.

YouTube.

You would think Youtube would be useful, but it really hasn't been so far, at least not for this particular costume. I'll keep looking though.

I build sets for Film and TV. ....we have these challenges as well....how to make something new. You need a 3 dimensional shape which is feathered. Maybe use a wire like heavy chicken wire. Add feathers and cloth.

That is so cool! I hope to do something like that one day. I'll take a look at the chicken wire tomorrow.

Looks like you got some good answers, allowing me to be a smartass with mine :)

Of course, the only obvious solution.

Like DanielDice you will have to use stapes and tubing for the body framework. I think we are both pretty much on the same page. The frame is the most critical part to having awesome wings. To support the feathers, make a frame from chicken wire and glue it onto some black canvas. And if you can get black turkey quills and start applying from the bottom up using hot glue, It takes around 250 per wing so a grand total of 500. If you cant go that route you could papier-mâché the wings and paint them. Hope this helps. Its not as easy as having someone show you.

It does help, thank you for your answer as well! I've got at least a $100 worth of feathers so hopefully i'll have enough. I'll focus on the framework for now, since that seems to be the most important part to getting the wings right.

Post pictures after so we can see how it turned out :)

Definitely!